FRIDAY, JAN. 18 

“Celebrate the Dream” Opening Ceremony, in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King’s 79th Birthday, with a speech by U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Frank Ogawa Plaza, 14th St. and Broadway, Oakland. 444-CITY. 

Iraq Moratorium Vigil to Protest the War from 2 to 4 p.m. at the corners of University and Acton. Sponsored by the Strawberry Creek Lodge Tenents Assoc. and the Berkeley-East Bay Gray Panthers. 548-9696. 

Conscientious Projector Films “The Story of Stuff” and “The Timber Gap” documentaries on the resources of the planet at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Fellowship Unitarian Universalists, 1924 Cedar, at Bonita. Donations appreciated. No one turned away. 528-5403. 

Teen Playreaders meets to read “Hamlet” and other plays based on the classic, at 4 p.m. at Claremont Branch Library, 2940 Benvenue at Ashby. 981-6121. 

Friday Films for Teens at 3:30 p.m. at the Berkeley Public Library, 3rd flr., 2090 Kittredge St. For details call 981-6121. 

City Commons Club Noon Luncheon with Mike Goldstein, Office of General Counsel, UCB on “The Tree Dwellers of UC Berkeley: The Univesity’s Perspective” Luncheon at 11:45 a.m. for $14.50, speech at 12:30 p.m., at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant St. For information and reservations call 526-2925.  

Berkeley Women in Black weekly vigil from noon to 1 p.m. at Bancroft and Telegraph. Our focus is human rights in Palestine. 548-6310. 

SATURDAY, JAN. 19 

“Trading Traditions: California’s New Cultures” opens at the Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak St., Oakland. 238-2022. www.museumca.org 

Weed Wrenchers Work Party From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Pt. Isabel, Rydin Rd, off Central Ave. near Costco, Richmond. Sponsored by Greens at Work. kyotousa@sbcglobal.net 

Solo Sierrans Bayshore Walk in El Cerrito Meet at 2 p.m. at small parking lot at Rydin St., off Central Ave. Bring binoculars to observe the many shore birds. Optional oriental dinner at Pacific East Mall. Wheelchair accessible. Rain cancels. 234-8949. 

California Writers Club with Charles Rubin, author of “Don’t Let Your Kids Kill You” at 10 a.m. at Barnes & Noble, Jack London Square. www.berkeleywritersclub.org 

Youth Rugby Clinic sponsored by Bay Area Rugby from 9 a.m. to noon at San Pablo Park, Oregon St. 599-8499. 

BANA Meeting at 10 a.m. in the Church Lounge, Westminster Hall, 1st Flr at First Pres. Church of Berkeley, 2407 Dana St. 

Preschool Storytime, for ages 3-5, at 11 a.m. at Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. 526-3720, ext. 17. 

Drawing Our Days A series of three free classes with Jan Wurm at 10:30 a.m. at Berkeley Public Library, Art and Music Dept., 2090 Kittredge St. Other classes are Jan. 26 and Feb. 2. 981-6100. 

Martin Luther King Day Potluck Dinner at 6 p.m. at Mormon Temple, 4770 Lincoln Ave., Oakland. Free. 925-458-1298. 

Techno Geek Art Challenge from 1 to 4 p.m. at Museum of Children’s Art, 528 9th St., Oakland. 465-8770. 

Families to Amend California’s Three Strikes Law, The East Bay Chapter will meet at 1 p.m. to plan to collect 700,000 signatures at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave., Albany. arinkarolweitzman@yahoo.com  

“Enough Cancer! Nutrition to Stop This Plague” Learn about cancer protective food, culinary and medicinal herbs and dietary supplements at 10 a.m. at Elephant Pharmacy, 1607 Shattuck Ave. 549-9200. 

Teen Knitting Circle at 3 p.m. at the Berkeley Public Library, 4th floor, 2090 Kittredge St. 

The Berkeley Lawn Bowling Club provides free instruction at 10:30 a.m. at 2270 Acton St. 841-2174.  

SUNDAY, JAN. 20 

“Spiritual Peace Walks, Preservation of Sacred Sites” with Miwok Elder from Vallejo, Wounded Knee de Ocampo, at 10:30 a.m. at Unitarian Fellowship Hall, Cedar and Bonita. 548-3223. 

Community Labyrinth Peace Walk at 3 p.m. at Willard Middle School, Telegraph Ave. between Derby and Stuart. Everyone welcome. Wheelchair accessible. Rain cancels. 526-7377. 

“Arrogant Humanism versus Respectful Humanism” with Sterling Bunnell at 11 a.m. at Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., Oakland. Donation $5. www.Humanist Hall.org 

MLK, Jr. Celebration: Faith in California from noon to 5 p.m. at the Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak St., Oakland. Music, discussions, photography exhibit, and hands-on activities for the whole family. 238-2200. www.museumca.org 

Grandmothers for the Oaks Celebration Bring warm clothes to donate, hot food and songs of solidarity at 2 p.m. at Memorial Oak Grove. www.saveoaks.com 

Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott Tribute Concert at 7:30 p.m. at Love Center Ministries, 10400 International Blvd., Oakland. Tickets are $30-$40. 593-0805.  

“At the River I Stand” screening at 5 p.m. followed by a discussion, in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., at Cerrito Speakeasy Theater, 10070 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito.  

“Crossing the Line: Multiracial Comedians” A documentary, followed by discussion, at 7:30 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $8-$10. 849-2568.  

Berkeley Cybersalon Explores the Next Spiritual Frontier with Steven Vedro, author of Digital Dharma: A User's Guide to Expanding Consciousness in the Age of the Infosphere at 4 p.m. at Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. Cos tis $15 at the door.  

“Trading Traditions: California’s New Cultures” A celebration of Faith in California at 2 p.m. at the Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak St., Oakland. 238-2022.  

East Bay Atheists Gene Gordon and Larry Hicok will jointly speak about Materialism at 1:30 p.m. at Berkeley Public Library, 3rd floor meeting room, 2090 Kittredge St. 222-7580. 

MONDAY, JAN. 21 

Golden Gate Audubon Society Bike Trip “Eastshore State Park” Meet at 9 a.m. at El Cerrito Del Norte BART. Bring lunch and bike helmet. 843-2222. 

Martin Luther King Day of Service to remove litter and non-native, invasive plants, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Arroyo Viejo Park, 7701 Krause Ave. or Knowland Park/Oakland Zoo, 9777 Golf Links Rd. For information call 655-3508. www.thewatershedproject.org 

Martin Luther King Day Volunteer Restoration Project from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at MLK, Jr. Regional Shoreline, Garretson Point at the end of Edgewater Drive, Oakland. 562-1373.  

“Make the Dream Real” Martin Luther King National Holiday Celebration from 10 a.m. to noon at Taylor Memorial Methodist Church, 1188 12th St., at Adeline, Oakland. 652-5530. 

CodePINK “Fierce Voter Pink Tea Party” from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Redwood Gardens, 2951 Derby St. RSVP to 524-2776. 

“How Modern DNA Studies Inform our Understanding of the History and Pre-History of the Eastern Mediterranean” Lecture presentation by Roy King, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral science at Stanford University, at 3:30 p.m. at Pacific School of Religion, 1798 Scenic Ave., Room 6, (entrance next to Chapel). 849-8218. www.psr.edu  

TUESDAY, JAN. 22 

Pacific School of Religion Earl Lectures on religion, environment and social justice, with Chandra Muzaffar, Karen Baker-Fletcher and others, Tues.-Thurs. at First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way. For details see www.psr.edu 

“Exploring Mongolia: An American Journalist’s Perspective” A slide presentation with Michael Kohn at 7 p.m. at REI, 1338 San Pablo Ave. 527-4140. 

Berkeley PC USers Group meets at 7 p.m. at 25 Dartmouth in the Hiller Highland area above the Claremont Hotel. 841-4411. 

Tuesday Tilden Walkers Join a few slowpoke seniors at 9:30 a.m. in the parking lot near the Little Farm for an hour or two walk. 215-7672, 524-9992. 

End the Occupation Vigil every Tues. at noon at Oakland Federal Bldg., 1301 Clay St. www.epicalc.org 

Fresh Produce Stand at San Pablo Park from 3 to 6 p.m. in the Frances Albrier Community Center. Sponsored by the Ecology Center’s Farm Fresh Choice. 848-1704.  

Berkeley Camera Club meets at 7:30 p.m., at the Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda. Share your digital images, slides and prints and learn what other photographers are doing. Monthly field trips. 548-3991.  

St. John’s Prime Timers meets at 9:30 a.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. We offer ongoing classes in exercise and creative arts, and always welcome new members over 50. 845-6830. 

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 23 

Golden Gate Audubon Society Field Trip “Lake Merritt and Lakeside Park” with Hilary Powers. Meet at 9:30 a.m. at the large spherical cage near Nature Center at Perkins and Bellevue to look at wintering birds. 843-2222. 

BASIL Seed Library meeting to plan annual Garden Seed Swap and The Library’s future, at 6:30 p.m. at the Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo. basil@ecologycenter.org 

Early Voting Ballot Discussion with Berkeley Councilmember Kriss Worthington and AFT Local 2121 President Ed Murray, at 1:30 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst. Sponsored by the Berkeley-East Bay Gray Panthers. 

“Reel Bad Arabs” A documentary on the degrading images of Arabs in cinematic history, at 7:30 p.m. at Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., Oakland. Donation $5. www.Humanist Hall.org 

“Who’s Putting the Heat on Barry Bonds ... And Why?” A dscussion at 7 p.m. at Revolution Books, 2425 Channing Way. 848-1196. 

Let It Snow Day Make snow and conduct ice experiments. Storytelling at 11 a.m. at Habitot Children's Museum, 2065 Kittredge St. 647-1111.  

Teen Chess Club from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the North Branch Library, 1170 The Alameda at Hopkins. 981-6133. 

“New Year Detox & Weight Loss” at 7 p.m. at Elephant Pharmacy, 1607 Shattuck Ave. 549-9200. 

Walk Berkeley for Seniors meets every Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. at the Sea Breeze Market, just west of the I-80 overpass. Everyone is welcome, wear comfortable shoes and a warm hat. Heavy rain cancels. 548-9840. 

Berkeley Peace Walk and Vigil at the Berkeley BART Station, corner of Shattuck and Center. Sing for Peace at 6:30 p.m. followed by Peace Walk at 7 p.m. www.geocities.com/vigil4peace/vigil 

After-School Program Homework help, drama and music for children ages 8 to 18, every Wed. from 4 to 7:15 p.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. Cost is $5 per week. 845-6830. 

Stitch ‘n Bitch at 6:30 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

THURSDAY, JAN. 24 

“Google and Sources of Information in a Global Age” Lecture by Douglas Merrill, Vice-President of Engineering at Google, at 7 p.m. in the International House Auditorium, 2299 Piedmont Ave. Cost is $5. 642-9460. 

Easy Does It Board of Directors’ Meeting at 6:30 p.m. at 1636 University Ave. 845-5513. 

Berkeley School Volunteers Orientation from 10 to 11 a.m. at 1835 Allston Way. Come learn about volunteer opportunities. 644-8833. 

Babies & Toddlers Storytime at 10:15 and 11:15 a.m. at Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave. 524-3043.  

ONGOING 

E-Waste Recycling St. Vincent de Paul of Alameda County accepts electronic waste including computers, dvd players, cell phones, fax machines and many other ewaste products for disposal free of charge at many of its locations throughout Alameda County. Make a tax-deductible donation while disposing of your ewaste appropriately and helping those in need. Free bulk pick-up available. 638-7600. www.svdp-alameda.org 

Help a Newt Cross the Road Every year newts migrate across Hillside Drive to reach their breeding pools in Castro Creek. Volunteers prevent many of these creatures from being crushed by cars. We need volunteers every evening during January and February in El Sobrante. The newts are most active on rainy nights. annabelle11_3@yahoo.com 

Free Tax Help If your 2007 household income was less than $42,000, you are eligible for free tax preparation from United Way's Earn it! Keep It! Save It! Sites are open now through April 15 in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. To find a site near you, call 800-358-8832. www.EarnItKeepItSaveIt.org 

CITY MEETINGS 

Council Agenda Committee meets Tues, Jan. 22, at 2:30 p.m., at 2180 Milvia St. 981-6900. 

Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board meets Tues., Jan. 22, at 7 p.m. in City Council Chambers. 981-7368.  

Civic Arts Commission meets Tues., Jan. 22 , at 6:30 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-7533.  

Commission on Labor meets Wed., Jan. 23, at 6:45 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-7550.  

Disaster and Fire Safety Commission meets Wed., Jan. 23, at 7 p.m., at 997 Cedar St. 981-5502.  

Planning Commission meets Wed., Jan. 23, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-7484.  

Housing Advisory Commission meets Thurs., Jan. 24, at 7 p.m., at the South Berkeley Senior Center. 981-5400.  

Mental Health Commission meets Thurs. Jan. 24, at 5 p.m. at 2640 MLK Jr. Way, at Derby. 981-5213.

FRIDAY, JAN. 18 

THEATER 

Actors Ensemble of Berkeley “Barefoot in the Park” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. at Live Oak Theater, 1301 Shattuck Ave. at Berryman, through Feb. 16. Tickets are $10-$12. 649-5999. www.aeofberkeley.org 

Altarena Playhouse “Wait Until Dark” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. at Altarena Playhouse, 1409 High St., Alameda, through Feb. 16. Tickets are $17-$20. 523-1553. www.altarena.org 

Encore Theatre Company & Shotgun Players “The Shaker Chair” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 5 p.m., at The Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave., through Jan. 27. Tickets are $20-$30. 841-6500. www.shotgunplayers.org 

Masquers Playhouse “Angel Street” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2:30 p.m. through Feb. 23 at 105 Park Place, Point Richmond. Tickets are $18. 232-4031. www.masquers.org 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Heart of the Matter” an exhibition by Laney College students. Sidewalk reception at 5 p.m. at Addison Street Windows Gallery, 2018 Addison St. 981-7546. 

FILM 

“The 400 Blows” with Laura Truffaut in person at 7 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $5.50-$9.50. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Shelby Steele describes “A Bound Man: Why We Are Excited About Obama and Why He Can’t Win” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. www.codysbooks.com  

Kazue Sawai, Japanese koto master, lecture and demonstration at 4 p.m. at Hertz Hall, UC Campus. Free. 642-4864. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

MamaCoAtl, Steve Taylor-Ramírez and Alfredo Gomez “Songs of Love and Protest” at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $10-$12. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Sam Adams Quartet with Jarrett Cherner, Hamir Atwal, Anthony Diamond at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $12. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

Kirsten Strom Quintet at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $12. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Native Elements with Dub Fix and Faya at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $11-$13. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Pam & Jeri Show at 8 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198. 

Phil Berkowitz & Louis’ Blues at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Calvin Weston and Monster Cock Rally, Slydini, Phillip Greenlief with Thomas Doyle at 9 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $10. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Avengers, Pansy Division, R’N’R Adventure Kids at 7:30 p.m. at 924 Gilman St., an all-ages, member-run, no alcohol, no drugs, no violence club. Cost is $7. 525-9926. 

Oh-no Stonesthrow, Zeph & Azeem, at 9 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $12. 548-1159.  

Macabea at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

Bobby Hutcherson with Russell Malone, Joe Gilman, Dwaybe Burno and Eddie Marshall at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square, through Sun.. Cost is $18-$24. 238-9200.  

SATURDAY, JAN. 19 

CHILDREN  

Los Amiguitos de La Peña with Abby and the Pipsqueaks at 10:30 a.m. at La Peña. Cost is $5 for adults, $4 for children. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Active Arts Theatre for Young Audiences “Little Women” Sat. and Sun. at 2 p.m., through Feb. 3, at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. Tickets are $14-$18. 925-798-1300.  

EXHIBITIONS 

“Trading Traditions: California’s New Cultures” opens at the Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak St., Oakland. 238-2022. www.museumca.org 

“Oakland Cityscapes and Landscapes” Photographs by Richard Leon. Reception at 6 p.m. at Luka’s Lounge, 2221 Broadway, Oakland. 451-4677. 

“Art in Nature” Paintings by Mari Kearney. Reception at 1 p.m. at Piedmont Yarn & Apparel, 3966 Piedmont Ave., Oakland.  

THEATER 

San Francisco Theater Project “Aftermath of War: in their own words” Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 7:30 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. Tickets are $15-$20. 925-798-1300.  

FILM 

“The Magic of George Melies” at 3 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $5.50-$9.50. 642-0808.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Justin Frank talks about “Bush on the Couch: Inside the Mind of the President” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Dream Kitchen with John Schott, Marc Bolin and John Hanes at 8 p.m. at 2213 Shattuck Ave., at Allston Way. Tickets are $5-$10, children under 12, free. www.berkeleyartsfestival.com 

Four Seasons Concerts Borealis Wind Quintet, and Leon Bates, pianist, at 7:30 p.m. at Regents Theater, Holy Names University, 3500 Mountain Blvd., Oakland. Tickets are $35-$40. 601-7919.  

Bach to Bachianas Brasileiras with The Wiley-Husbands Duo at 8 p.m. at Trinity Chapel, 2320 Dana St. Tickets are $8-$12. 549-3864. 

Novella Quartet at 4 p.m. at a home in North Berkeley. Space is limited, please make reservations. 452-8202.  

Anatolian Rhythms with Yore and Collage Dance Ensembles at 8 p.m. at Roda Theater, 2015 Addison St. Tickets are $15-$30. 647-2949.  

Jazz Fourtet at 8 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Saoco, Latin Hip Hop, at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $10. 849-2568.  

Faye Carol & Her Trio at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $12. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Shimshai with Tina Malia, Jagadambe at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $12-$15. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com  

Moment’s Notice improvised music, dance & theater at 8 p.m. at Western Sky Studio, 2525 8th St. Cost is $8-$15. 992-6295. 

Charming Hostess and Tsipi Gabbai at 8 p.m. at the JCC of the East Bay, 1414 Walnut St. Tickets are $10-$12. 848-0237. 

High Diving Horses, Luther Monday at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. 

Robert Gastelum Group at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

Gandolph Murphy & the Slambovian Circus of Dreams at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761.  

Other Perspectives in Improvised Music at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $15. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

Port, Melodic Jones, Jamie Jenkins at 9 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $10. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Jeffree Star, Von Iva, Bob Weirdos at 7:30 p.m. at 924 Gilman St., an all-ages, member-run, no alcohol, no drugs, no violence club. Cost is $7. 525-9926. 

SUNDAY, JAN. 20 

CHILDREN 

Asheba at Ashkenaz at 3 p.m. Cost is $4-$6. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

EXHIBITIONS 

“3” Works by Diana Guerrero-Maciá, Kelsey Nicholson, Lena Wolff opens at Traywick Gallery, 895 Colusa Ave. 527-1214. www.traywick.com 

“Color, Color, Color” Paintings by Julie Ross at Poulet, 1685 Shattuck, though Jan. 

FILM 

“The Nibelungen Part 1: Siegfried’s Death” at 1 p.m. and “Part 2: Kriemhild’s Revenge” at 4 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $5.50-$9.50. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

“In the Name of Love” Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., with Linda Tillery and the Cultural Heritage Choir, Rhiannon and Terrance Kelly, Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, Oakland Children’s Community Choir and Oaktown Jazz Workshop at 7:30 p.m. at Oakland Scottish Rite Center, 1547 Lakeside Dr. Tickets are $6-$22. 800-838-3006. www.mlktribute.com 

Chamber Music Sundaes with musicians and friends from the San Francisco Symphony at 3 p.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. Tickets are $18-$22. 415-753-1792. 

Rebecca Riots in a family-friendly concert at 4:30 p.m. at Kehilla Community Synagogue,1300 Grand Ave., Piedmont. Tickets are $5-$15. 1-800-838-3006. www.BrownPaperTickets.com/event/24792 

Live Oak Concert with Temescal Trio, Karen Wells, clarinet, Madeleine Prager, viola, John Burke, piano at 7:30 p.m. at Berkeley Art Center 1275 Walnut St. Tickets are $10. 644-6893. berkeleyartcenter.org 

Anna Carol Dudley, soprano, will celebrate her birthday by giving a free public recital at 2 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of Berkeley, Channing and Dana. 205-8826. 

Jazz at the Chimes with Bruce Forman, guitar, at 2 p.m. at Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Ave., Oakland. Tickets are $10-$15. 228-3218. 

Gil Shaham, violin, and Akira Eguchi, piano, at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $34-$62. 642-9988.  

Grupo Falso Baiano at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island. Cost is $10. 841-JAZZ.  

Mariospeedwagon at 11 a.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344.  

Jazzschool Studio Band at 4:30 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $25. 845-5373.  

MONDAY, JAN. 21 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“Speeches of a Dream” Spoken word in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., from 2 to 5 p.m. at Malonga Casquelourde Center for the Arts, 1428 Alice St., Oakland. 238-7219. 

PlayGround Six emerging playwrights debut new works at 8 p.m. at Berkeley Rep, 2025 Addison St.Tickets are $18. 415-704-3177. 

Ann Wright and Daniel Ellsberg discuss “Dissent: Voices of Conscience” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books. 559-9500. 

Ivan Arguelles and John M. Bennett read their poetry at 7:30 p.m. at Moe’s Books, 2476 Telegraph Ave. 849-2087. 

Poetry Express on “Other People’s Poems” at 7 p.m. at Priya Restaurant, 2072 San Pablo Ave. Email poetryexpress@gmail.com for rules. 644-3977. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Ellis Island Band, klezmer, at 7 p.m. at Le Bateau Ivre, 2629 Telegraph Ave. 849-1100.  

Trovatore, traditional Italian music, at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

West Coast Songwriters Competition at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage Coffee House. Cost is $5. 548-1761. 

Corey Harris and the 5x5 Band at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $16-$20. 238-9200.  

TUESDAY, JAN. 22 

CHILDREN 

Bill Nemoyten “The Hornman” for ages 3 and up at 6:30 p.m. at the Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave., Kensington. 524-3043. 

FILM 

Experimental Documentaries “Milk n the Land: Ballad of an American Drink” at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $5.50-$9.50. 642-0808.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Freight and Salvage Open Mic at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $4.50-$5.50. 548-1761.  

Gabor Gyukics, poet and translator, at 7:30 p.m. at Moe’s Books, 2476 Telegraph Ave. 849-2087. 

Charles Halpern introduces “Making Waves and Riding Currents: Activism and the Practice of Wisdom” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Courtableu at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cajun dance lesson at 8 p.m. Cost is $10. 525-5054.  

Singers’ Open Mic with Kelly Park at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $5. 841-JAZZ.  

David Lindley at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $24.50-$25.50. 548-1761.  

Bob Kenmotsu, jazz, at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival, featuring Cyril Pahinui, Dennis Kamakahi & George Kahumoku at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $14-$20. 238-9200.  

Jazzschool Tuesdays at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 23 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Cycle of Life: Awakening” Works by Asian women artists, opens at the Institute of East Asian Studies, 2223 Fulton St., 6th flr. Exhibit runs to May 15. 642-2809. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“Introduction to Film Language” with Prof. Marilyn Fabe at 3 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $5.50-$9.50. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

Mona Sutphen and Nina Hachigian describe “The Next American Century: How the U.S. Can Thrive as Other Powers Rise” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

Vikram Chandra reads from “Sacred Games” at 7:30 p.m. at Moe’s Books, 2476 Telegraph Ave. 849-2087. 

Sue Miller reads from “The Senator’s Wife” at 7:30 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

Writing Teachers Write at 5 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344.  

Berkeley Poetry Slam with host Charles Ellik and Three Blind Mice, at 8:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $5-$7. 841-2082  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

David Lindley at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $24.50-$25.50. 548-1761.  

Erik Jekabsen Quartet at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $8. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Balkan Folk Dance at 8 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $7. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

La Verdad at 9:30 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $5-$10. 548-1159.  

Code Name: Jonah at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

Cyrus Chestnut at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $12-$18. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

THURSDAY, JAN. 24 

FILM 

African Film Festival “Bamako” at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $5.50-$9.50. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Jacqueline Shea Murphy in Conversation with Hertha Dawn Sweet Wong on “The People Have Never Stopped Dancing: Native American Modern Dance Histories,” at 5:30 p.m. at University Press Books, 2430 Bancroft Way. 548-0585. www.universitypressbooks.com 

Hillary Gravendyk and Logan Ryan Smith, poets, at 7:30 p.m. at Pegasus Books Downtown, 2349 Shattuck Ave. 649-1320. 

Sudhir Venkatesh describes “Gang Leader for a Day” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Emam & Friends, Kirtan and world music, at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Kelly Joe Phelps at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $19.50-$20.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Count Basie Tribute Orchestra Benefit at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $15. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Laura Zucker at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

The David Thom Band, Jacob Groopman and The Mountain Boys at 9 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $6. 841-2082  

Son de Madera at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $12-$15.. 849-2568. g 

Cyrus Chestnut at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $12-$18. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

Planet Loop, electro-jazz, worldbeat, at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

AFTERMATH OF WAR—IN THEIR OWN WORDS  

A well-staged, engagingly performed show by the San Francisco Theater Project runs this weekend at the Julia Morgan Center, 2640 College Ave. SF City College students recite and enact the words of American Iraq War campaigners. Less a play than a kind of performance pageant, it also draws sparingly from mothers and wives of G.I.s, including Cindy Sheehan. The occasional live music is good, including a rendition of Marty Balin’s “I Saw You.” Tickets $15-$20. Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 7:30 p.m. (925) 798-1300.

ReOrient, the annual festival of short plays about the Middle East, a production of Golden Thread, founded by Torange Yeghiazarian of Oakland, this year features performances by Berkeley favorite Julian Lopez-Morillas and Danielle Levin of Oakland. 

It also features a play, 22 Minutes Remaining, by Filipino playwright and Oakland resident Ignacio Zulueta, directed by Evran Odcikin (also of Oakland), about the tense yet humorous dialogue that develops when an Israeli officer makes a “courtesy call” to a woman in a Lebanese village to inform her of its imminent bombing.  

The festival runs through Feb. 3 at the Magic Theatre in San Francisco’s Fort Mason Center. Info at (415) 626-4061 or goldenthread.org 

Golden Thread for years has produced plays and workshops at Berkeley venues like the Ashby Stage and at UC. This year’s offering of five plays is an unusually taut yet diverse pairing of themes and styles. 

It leads off with Zulueta’s piece, in which the young Israeli encounters a yenta, albeit a muslim one, he being the same age as the son from whom she waits by the phone in vain to hear.  

The program continues with an ambitious staging of Nobel nominee Simin Behbehani’s poem “I Sell Souls.” The ancient ghazal poetic form—perhaps best-known in the U.S. through Rumi’s lyrics—has been thematically expanded by Behbehani’s innovations, adding theatrical subjects and conversation. It includes projections of objects in nature and closeups of faces and feet walking, which play with scale against the forlorn figures of the players, including Lopez-Morillas. 

“The Monologist Suffers Her Monologue” features Sara Razavi (directed by Arlene Hood) in Yussef El Guindi’s acerbic and reflexive piece on Palestine and Palestinians, an ongoing monologue hindered from dialogue by its “nonexistence.”  

“Pistachio Tales,” by Lebanese American Laura Shamas (directed by Mark Routhier) is a humorous but bittersweet story-within-a-story about the Patriot Act, a perhaps misinterpreted gift of rare red pistachios--and the breakdown of friendly meeting and conversation with the threat of surveillence. 

The longest and most challenging piece is “Between This Breath and You,” contributed by MacArthur and Obie Prizewinner British political playwright Naomi Wallace. Lopez-Morrilas, Levin and a clownish Ali El-Gassier are the principals in a strange confrontation between a janitor and nurse in a West Jerusalem clinic closed for the evening and a patient (in every sense) from East Jerusalem who won’t leave the waiting room.  

Impressive performances mark a wayward, gamey allegory that keeps changing tack, from a catch phrase in an old Police hit song, to the tale about an organ donor, becoming the image of unwitting symbiosis, unsuspected familial relation. 

Jack Tucker of Richmond—theater critic, retired columnist for the Contra Costa Times, who the Guinness Book of Records named “Oldest Known Living Newspaper Columnist” in 2005—died Dec. 27, 93 years of age.  

A memorial gathering will be held Saturday from 3:30-5:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley (in Kensington). Information and directions are on Tucker’s website, where his reviews appeared after his retirement, www.clickjacktucker.com 

Tucker, the emeritus of the Bay Area theater critics scene, knew both sides of the proscenium, acting in many local productions over the years. Dory Ehrlich, Berkeley actress and publicist for the Masquers Playhouse in Pt. Richmond, recalled acting with Tucker in a production of A. R. Gurney’s Scenes from American Life at Contra Costa Civic Theatre in 2002. 

“It was a PlayMakers production, directed by Louis Flynn [founder of CCCT, also recently deceased, age 86], who hand-picked his cast, all of whom had worked at CCCT before—as Jack said in his column, ‘a sort of old-home week reunion for many, fittingly all together again as a stage family.’ Jack played a dance instructor, and I can picture him with his bow-tie and his stick, patiently tapping out the rhythm for the less than perfect dancers. As always, he was a gentleman, onstage and off.” 

Of his lively writing style, entertainment publicist Kim Taylor noted, “Jack had the kind of flair that could make any fellow writer jealous; there were times he made me downright pea-green with envy. He could always spin my submissions into wittier, tighter items. I’ve lost a friend and mentor and the theater community has lost one of its biggest supporters.” 

Born in Tennessee, Tucker wrote as society columnist for the Detroit Free Press and theater critic for the San Diego Tribune (now the Union). He’d mention as asides in conversation his presence at the surrender of Japanese troops in Korea at the end of World War II, or spotting Huey Long at the sidelines of a ballgame and engaging him in a chat.  

In recent years, he posted his Thurberesque cartoons on his website (and on mugs), appeared on a float in the How Berkeley Can You Be? parade and held annual Weird Food parties with his wife, horticulturalist Gail Morrison, in their pioneering sustainable and edible garden. Morrison noted that, despite his rich personal experience, the only person Tucker never covered in his columns was himself.